Upward Look: It is no good report

Mae Stallard

January 22, 2014

“Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the Lord’s people to sin.” (I Samuel 2:24)

Eli, the priest who ministered to the Lord at Shiloh, has sons who were very wicked and did not know the Lord. Eli hear all the terrible things his sons did to Israel, and how they slept with the women who served at the entrance of the tabernacle of the congregation. Then he confronted them, asking why they did such things, and telling them that he had heard from all the people about their wicked deeds. He made known that it was not a good report that he heard about them. If a person sinned against another man, the judge would judge him, but if he sinned against the Lord, who would intercede for him?

As parents, we do not always hear good reports about our children. We are very distressed, and wonder what we should do to help them. We have a responsibility to our children to “bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4) That is not always an easy task, because children have minds of their own, and often make decisions that are not good for them. We must then decide how to best handle the problem. Sometimes we seek the advice of our pastor or those who have had similar experiences. We pray a lot and read God’s Hold Word, seeking an answer to our dilemna.

Thank God, we usually make it through the stressful time, and learn lessons that will help us in the future. We become more aware of the problems faced by children, and determine that we will do all we can to help them avoid the same situation. With God’s help, we live to hear good reports about those whom God has entrusted to our care. Thank you, Lord for the opportunity and blessing.

Poem:

Eli was very distressed,

When he heard bad reports and about his sons,

And like most parents who live today,

Such news hurts and also stuns.

So may we learn a lesson,

That will help us today,

As we strive to teach our children,

They must trust God and obey.

Prayer:

Dear Father, Help us as parents to set a good example for our children, and to bring them up in the Lord. In Jesus name we pray. A-men.